Floodlights could be switched on for Eden Test

Artificial lights could be used during the third Test between India and England in Kolkata, starting Wednesday. Bad light regularly stops play in winter in eastern India.

Asked whether floodlights would be used in the current series, Ratnakar Shetty, CAO BCCI, said: "It is part of the playing conditions."

Article 3.7 of the playing conditions in the ICC's rules and regulations states that "If in the opinion of the umpires, natural light is deteriorating to an unfit level, they shall authorise the ground authorities to use the available artificial lighting so that the match can continue in acceptable conditions."

But using its right as a home board, the BCCI don't always go by this. Last November, almost an hour of play was lost in the evening session of the second day's play during the India-West Indies Test. In this season's Ranji Trophy, almost the entire last session was lost during the first three days' of play between Bengal and Rajasthan in early November. The next match against Gujarat, which Bengal drew, too saw play being stopped (see box) and Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary said later that the result could have been different had they got more time.

Conceding that light could be problem, the BCCI has already brought forward the start of the Test by half-an-hour to 9am.

Bangladesh have been using artificial lights after 2010. "Over the years, we have missed a lot of playing time in Chittangong in winter because of bad light and fog and we did not have much of an option but to use artificial lights so that we get a full day's play," said Rabeed Imam, media manager Bangladesh Cricket Board, over the phone from Dhaka.